ARTIFICIAL SNOW MAKING MACHINE

Abstract

 A constant-rate, force-feed artificial snow making machine which is an air blowing crusher for eliminating variations in ice lump supply amount to eliminate variations in ice-snow particle size and ice-snow stuck in a casing and for effectively using blown air to discharge ice-snow to distant locations as artificial snow, the snow making machine comprising; a constant-rate ice lump supply machine (1) having a casing (3) provided in the upper portion thereof with an ice lump inlet (4) for receiving ice lumps (2), rotary vanes (8) rotating within the casing (3) to supply ice lumps (2) at a constant rate, and ice lump outlet (5) provided in the lower portion of the casing (3); and an air blowing crusher (11) having a casing (13) provided in a side surface thereof with an air blowing tube inlet (10) of an air blowing tube (9) for receiving ice lumps (2) supplied from the ice lump supply machine (1) along with blown air (12), rotary vanes (15) provided within the casing (13) and for crushing ice lumps (2) into ice-snow (18), and a blown air exhaust port (19) provided in a side surface opposite to the air blowing tube inlet (10) of the casing (13) and for discharging the obtained ice-snow (18) as artificial snow (20); characterized in that an ice lump receiving port (14) of the crusher (11) is continuously provided to the ice lump outlet (5) of the ice lump supply machine (1) via the air blowing tube (9).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an artificial snow making equipment for an artificial ski slope wherein a block of ice is pulverized and blown away.

RELATED ART

[0002] A conventional air-blowing pulverizer such as an ice crusher generates artificial snow (49) by pulverizing ice block (48) into sleet-like small pieces as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The equipment in Figure 11 has rotary blades (45) for pulverizing which are arranged at an equal distance from each other in the radial direction around the rotational shaft in casing (44) on the top of rigid substrate (47). Air supply opening (41), through which air to glow artificial snow (49) is supplied, and ice supply opening (42), through which ice blocks are supplied, are placed at one end of substrate (47) under the lower end of casing (44). The other end of substrate (47) under casing (44), opposite from supply opening (42), has exhaust opening (43) through which artificial snow (49) made of pulverized ice is blown. Ice blocks (48) are supplied, together with air through air supply opening (41) on the substrate at the right side in the figure and are pulverized into sleet-like pieces by crushing them against substrate (47) with the rotational force of rotary blades (45), which are arranged around rotational shaft (46) and rotate at a high speed in casing (44), to generate artificial snow (49). Resulting artificial snow (49) is blown through exhaust opening (43) with air onto ski slopes.

[0003] Another example of a conventional air-blowing pulverizer is shown in Figure 12. Herein, the positions of supply opening (42) for ice blocks and air supply opening (41) are different from ones in Figure 11 wherein they are arranged at separate positions on casing (44). Supply opening (42) for ice blocks (48) is placed at the top of casing (44). Supplied ice blocks, while passing through casing (44) by rotary blades (45) for pulverizing which are rotated by rotational shaft (46) at a high speed, are crushed with rotary blades (45) and reach the air supply opening at the bottom of casing (44). The crushed ice is further pulverized between substrate (47) and rotary blades (45) to be artificial snow (49) which is blown with air through exhaust opening (43) at the other end of the bottom of casing (44).

[0004] However, the above air-blowing pulverizer has drawbacks. With the pulverizer of Figure 11, the size of ice pieces pulverized by rotary blades (45) may vary depending on the amount of ice blocks (48) supplied to casing (44) through supply opening. Also, once the supply of ice blocks (48) becomes excessive, the path between air supply opening (41) and exhaust opening (43) may become blocked with snow. Therefore, excess drive is required to rotate rotary blades (45) at a high speed. With the pulverized of Figure 12, in addition to the drawbacks discussed about the pulverizer in Figure 11, when one intensifies the air flow through air supply opening (41) to blow the pulverized ice pieces further, not all the air reaches exhaust opening (43), but some air flows backward and tends to leak from supply opening (42). As a result, the air flow to blow artificial snow (49) from exhaust opening (43) is weakened such that artificial snow (49) cannot be blown far enough. Consequently, further drive is required.

[0005] Hence, the present invention intends to provide an efficient air-blowing pulverizer in which:

variance in the size of pulverized ice pieces is eliminated by stabilizing the amount of ice blocks to be supplied such that the resulting artificial snow is more desirable for skiing;

operation of the pulverizer is smoothly continued by preventing ice blocks from blocking inside the casing; and

all supplied air can be utilized to blow the pulverized ice pieces far enough without requiring excess drive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] To serve the above purpose, the present invention provides, according to the first invention, an artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing, comprising:

an ice block supplier (1) to supply ice blocks at a constant rate including:

a casing (3) having, on a upper side of the casing, an ice block supply opening (4) through which ice blocks (2) are supplied, and on a lower side of the casing, an exit for ice blocks (5) which is positioned under the casing (3);

a rotary blades (8) which are arranged at an equal distance from each other around a rotational shaft 6, formed at the center of the casing (3), to supply the ice blocks (2) at a constant rate; and

an air-blowing pulverizer (11) including:

an air duct (9) which receives the ice blocks (2) and air (12) being supplied from an ice block supplier (1);

a casing (13) having an opening (10) of the air duct (9) on the side surface;

rotary blades (17) radially arranged at an equal distance from each other around periphery (16) of rotational shaft (15), formed at the center of the casing (13), to pulverize ice blocks (2) into ice pieces (18); and

an air exhaust (19) formed on the opposite side of the casing (13) from the opening (10) of the air duct to blow ice pieces (18) as artificial snow (20),

   wherein the exit for ice blocks (5) of the ice block supplier (1) is connected to an ice block receiving slot (14) of air-blowing pulverizer (11) by the air duct (9).

[0007] According to the second invention in reference to artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing of the first invention, the ice block supplier (1) is such that space (22) between the periphery of casing (3) and edge (21) of rotary blade (8) is formed to be very narrow to prevent a back flow of air (12) from exit for ice blocks (5) into the ice block supplier (1).

[0008] According to the third invention in reference to artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing of the first or second invention, the rotary blades (17) of the air-blowing pulverizer (11) have width (24) equal to the length (23) of rotational shaft (15), and the rotary blades (17) are radially arranged at an equal distance from each other around the periphery (16) of the rotational shaft such that rotary blades (17) are parallel to axis (39).

[0009] According to the fourth invention in reference to artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing of the first or second invention, the rotary blades (17) in the air-blowing pulverizer (11) are radially arranged in two rows at an equal distance from each other around the periphery (16) of the rotational shaft, wherein one side of the rotary blades (17), at the central periphery (26) of the shaft, is positioned behind the other side of the rotary blade (17), on an edge (25) of the shaft, in the direction opposite from direction of rotation (27) such that rotary blade (17) is oblique to axis (39).

[0010] According to the fifth invention in reference to artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing of the second or fourth invention, edge portion (31) is a portion of rotary blade (17) in air-blowing pulverizer (11) between edge (29) of the blade and bending line (30) which is located between base (28) and edge (29) of the blade wherein edge portion (31) is bent in the direction opposite from direction or rotation (27).

[0011] In other words, the means of the present invention has an ice block supplier (1) to supply ice blocks as a raw material at a constant rate to air-blowing pulverizer (11). In this an ice block supplier (1), a plurality of rotary blades (8) are arranged at an equal distance from each other around rotational shaft (6) which rotates inside casing (3). Exit for ice blocks (5) of an ice block supplier (1) to supply ice blocks at a constant rate is placed facing air duct (9) through which air is forced to air-blowing pulverizer (11) such that ice blocks can be supplied to air-blowing pulverizer (11) at a constant rate by adjusting the speed of rotation of rotary blades (8) in relation to the volume of the space between rotary blades (8). Additionally, space (22) between the inner periphery of casing (3) and edge (21) of rotary blade (8) is established to be a minimum yet does not cause any disturbance in the rotation of rotary blades (8). This configuration prevents the force of air to air-blowing pulverizer (11) from declining, which is caused by a backflow of air to be supplied to air-blowing pulverizer (11) into ice block supplier (8) to supply ice blocks at a constant rate via exit for ice blocks (5) of an ice block supplier (1) as an opening to supply ice blocks to air-blowing pulverizer (11).

[0012] In air-blowing pulverizer (11), a plurality of rotary blades (17) are arranged in the radial direction around rotational shaft (15) which rotates in cylindrical casing (13) at a high speed. Air duct (9) is placed facing the side of casing (13) to form ice block receiving slot (14) which receives ice blocks (2) to be pulverized, as well as forced air. The side of casing (13) opposite from ice block receiving slot (14) is air exhaust (19) through which artificial snow made of pulverized ice pieces (18) is blown out.

[0013] In the case of air-blowing pulverizer (11) where rotary blades (17) are alternated in two rows around rotational shaft (15), blade (32) is positioned between one edge (25) of rotational shaft (15) and central periphery (26) of the shaft while blade (33) is positioned between central periphery (26) and the other edge (25). This plurality of blades is alternated in two rows on periphery (16) of the rotational shaft. As a result, ice blocks (2) to be pulverized move between rotary blades (17) from left to right and vice versa as they are transferred to air exhaust (19) such that ice pieces (18) will not block the space between rotary blades (17). This configuration does not require extra drive [as a counter force against the blocked path]. Further, ice blocks (2) are pulverized by rotary blades (17) while moving between rotary blades (17), resulting in more uniformed small ice pieces (18) as artificial snow (20), more appropriate for skiing. Moreover, the side of rotary blades (17) in two rows at central periphery (26) of the shaft is positioned to form an angle alpha in relation to rotational shaft (15) in the direction opposite from the direction of rotation. Consequently, ice blocks (2) can more easily move between two rows of rotary blades (17) such that the pulverizing performance is improved. Additionally, a backflow of the air in casing (13), which would cause a decline in the air pressure, is prevented such that artificial snow (20) can be blow further away.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

[0014] 

Figure 1 is a schematic configuration showing artificial snow making equipment with constant forced blowing of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an oblique view of one row of rotary blades in an air-blowing pulverizer according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is an oblique view of two rows of rotary blades in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the rotary blades in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a profile view of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an expanded plan view of a rotational shaft and rotary blades.

Figure 7 is an oblique view of another embodiment of Figure 2 wherein the edge portion of the rotary blades are bent.

Figure 8 is an oblique view of another embodiment of Figure 3 wherein the edge portion of the rotary blades are bent.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the rotary blades in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a profile view of the rotary blades in Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a side view of a schematic configuration of conventional air-blowing artificial snow making equipment.

Figure 12 is a side view of a schematic configuration of another conventional air-blowing artificial snow making equipment.

[0015] In these figures, following symbols are used:
(1): ice block supplier to supply ice blocks at a constant rate; (2): ice blocks; (3): casing; (4): ice block supply opening; (5): exit for ice blocks; (6): rotational shaft; (7): periphery of rotational shaft; (8): rotary blades; (9): air duct; (10): opening of air duct; (11): air-blowing pulverizer; (12): air; (13): casing; (14): ice block receiving slot; (15): rotational shaft; (16): periphery of rotational shaft; (17): rotary blades; (18): ice pieces; (19): air exhaust; (20): artificial snow; (21): edge; (22): space; (23): length of shaft; (24): width; (25): edge of shaft; (26): central periphery of shaft; (27): direction of rotation; (28): base of rotary blade; (29): edge of rotary blade; (30): bending line; (31): edge portion of rotary blade (32) - (38): blade; (39): axis; (40): shifting direction; (41): air supply opening (42): ice supply opening; (43): exhaust opening; (44): casing; (45): rotary blades (46): rotational shaft; (47): substrate; (48): ice blocks; (49): artificial snow (50): angle alpha; (51): angle beta;

EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic configuration of the present invention showing artificial snow making equipment with constant forced blowing wherein the front wall is removed to show the inside configuration. Number (1) is an ice block supplier to supply ice blocks at a constant rate, placed on the upstream side of air-blowing pulverizer (11). An ice block supplier (1) to supply ice blocks at a constant rate has funnel-shaped ice block supply opening (4), which receives ice blocks (2) as a raw material, on the top of steel cylindrical casing (3). In casing (3), rotational shaft (6) is positioned at the center and is rotated by a drive (not show in the figure) in the direction indicated by an arrow. With rotary blades (8) comprised of six steel blades, the width of each blade is equal to the width of rotational shaft. Additionally, the blades reach the inner wall of casing (3) and are arranged at an equal distance from each other in the radial direction around periphery (7) of rotational shaft (6). Exit for ice blocks (5), having a width equal to the distance between blades, is positioned at the bottom of casing (3).

[0017] Exit for ice blocks (5) of an ice block supplier (1) to supply ice blocks at a constant rate is connected to the side of air duct (9) through which air (12) is sent into air-blowing pulverizer (11) at the bottom of an ice block supplier (1) and functions as ice block receiving slot (14) of air-blowing pulverizer (11). After obtaining ice blocks (2) through ice block receiving slot (14), ice blocks are transferred together with air (12) via air duct (9) through opening (10) of air duct, connected to the side of cylindrical steel casing (13), into air-blowing pulverizer (11). Rotational shaft (15) is placed at the center of casing (13) and is driven by a drive (not shown in the figure) at a high speed in the direction indicated by the arrow. Rotary blades (17) composed of steel are arranged at an equal distance around periphery (16) of rotational shaft (15) in the radial direction. Air exhaust (19), through which ice pieces (18) pulverized in casing (13) are blown with forced air as artificial snow, is placed at the side of casing (13) opposite from opening (10) of the air duct.

[0018] In an ice block supplier (1) to supply ice blocks at a constant rate, space (22) between edge (21) of rotary blades (8) and the inside wall of casing (13) is established to be a minimum without disturbing the rotation of the blades. As a result, air (12) is prevented from flowing from exit for ice blocks (5) to an ice block supplier (1) via space (22).

[0019] There are various modifications of rotary blades (17) of air-blowing pulverizer (11). The following describes those modifications in reference to drawings of rotary blades (17). Figure 2 illustrates rotary blades (17) that have width (24) equal to length (23), between edge (25) and another edge (25) of rotational shaft (15) wherein six rotary blades (17) are arranged at an equal distance from each other around periphery (16) of rotary shaft (15) in parallel to axis (39). In this case, ice blocks (2), which are supplied from opening (10) of the air sending duct on the side of casing (13), are pulverized by being crushed by one of rotary blades (17) in rotation. The ice blocks are further pulverized by friction against each other to become ice pieces (18). Ice pieces (18) are pushed by rotary blades (17) during the rotation and blown out through air exhaust (19).

[0020] The following describes rotary blades (17) of another embodiment in reference to Figure 3. Two rows of rotary blades, which have a width equal to the distance from one edge (25) of the shaft to central periphery (26) of the shaft, are arranged at an equal distance from each other in parallel to axis (39) wherein positions of rotary blades (17) in the left row and the right row are alternated. Herein, rotary blade (17) is not adjacent to the center of another rotary blade (17) on periphery (16). Therefore, ice blocks (2), which are inserted from opening (10) of the air duct on the side of casing (13), are placed in front of rotating rotary blade (17) and crushed therewith. Ice blocks (2) are then pushed by rotary blade (17) to the space on periphery (16) of the shaft in the adjacent row. Accordingly, ice blocks shift between rotary blades (17) in the left and right rows during the rotation such that the ice blocks are further pulverized by the blades. Together with pulverization due to the friction among the ice blocks, ice pieces (18) with uniform small particles result.

[0021] Figures 3 through 6 show rotary blades (17) of yet another embodiment. Herein, the center sections of rotary blades (17) in two rows are shifted backward in relation to the sides on edges (25) of the shaft in the direction opposite from the direction of rotation (27) with angle alpha in relation to axis (39) of rotational shaft (15) while rotary blades (17) of two rows are arranged parallel to axis (39) in the above embodiment. Figure 4 is a plan view of rotary blades (17) in Figure 3 while Figure 5 is a profile view of rotary blades (17) in Figure 3. A dotted line in Figure 4 indicates rotational shaft (15). In Figure 5, blades (32), (35) and (36) are positioned on the closer side of rotary shaft (15) as shown in Figure 3 wherein the side of the blades at central periphery (26) is shifted backward in relation to the side of edge (25) with angle alpha in relation to axis (39). Similarly, blades (33), (34), (37) and (38) are positioned on the further side of rotary shaft (15) wherein the side of the blades at central periphery (26) is shifted backward in relation to the side of edge (25) with angle alpha in relation to axis (39). Blades on either side are angled at the center section in the direction opposite from direction of rotation (27). Figure 6 is an expanded plan view of rotational shaft (25) and rotary blades (17).

[0022] When rotary blades (17) of Figure 5 rotate in the direction of rotation (27) as in Figure 6, ice blocks (2) shift between the blades in two rows (top and bottom rows in the figure) in shifting direction (40), as indicated with an arrow. Ice blocks (2) are crushed by the blades every time they are shifted therebetween, resulting in ice pieces (18) which move in the direction of rotation (27) and are blown out from air exhaust (19). In other words, after being crushed by blade (37), ice blocks (2) shift along the arrow and are further pulverized by blade (35). The pulverized ice blocks are shifted to blade (33), then blade (32) to be further pulverized resulting in ice pieces (18) which moves in shifting direction (27) and are blown out from air exhaust (19).

[0023] Yet another embodiment is shown in Figures 7 through 10. Figure 7 is a modification of rotary blades (17) of Figure 2. Figure 8 is a modification of rotary blades (17) in two rows of Figure 3. In these embodiments, bending line (30) is established from base (28) to edge (29) of rotary blade (17) wherein edge section (31) of rotary blade (17) nearest the edge is bent at bending line (30) with angle beta in direction of rotation (27). Figure 9 is a plan view of the rotary blades of Figure 7 while Figure 10 is a profile view of Figure 7. By bending edge portion 31 of the rotary blades in direction of rotation (27), ice blocks (2) supplied from opening (10) of the air duct into air-blowing pulverizer (11) are crushed by rotary blades (17) with more force to produce finer ice pieces (18). As a result, artificial snow (20), which is more suitable for skiing, can be obtained.

[0024] The following further describes the artificial snow making equipment and its operation. Ice blocks to be used with an ice block supplier 1 to supply ice blocks at a constant rate are plate ice prepared with an ice machine in advance and have a size of 7 mm thickness x 50 mm x 100 mm. The speed of rotation of rotary blades (8) in an ice block supplier (1) is established at 25 rpm such that the ice blocks are supplied to air-blowing pulverizer (11) together with forced air from air duct (9). The force of the forced air from air duct (9) is established to be strong enough to blow out artificial snow (20) made of ice pieces (18), which are pulverized with air-blowing pulverizer (11), through air exhaust (19) at the wind speed of 30 m/sec. In other words, the speed of rotation of rotary blades (17) of air-blowing pulverizer (11) is established to be a high speed of 1500 to 1600 rpm. The performance of air-blowing pulverizer (11) to process artificial snow (20) is 20 m³/min. Additionally, rotary blades (17) in two rows between edge (25) of the shaft and central periphery (26) of the shaft are angled in relation to axis (39) by 10 to 15 degree. The diameter of rotary blades (17) of air-blowing pulverizer (11) is 700 mm, and length (23) is 190 mm. In the case of rotary blades (17) which have their edge (31) bent at bending line (30), the radius between the center of the shaft to bending line (30) of the rotary blades (17) is established to be 250 mm. In addition, the number of rotary blades (17) in each row on the shaft periphery is 6. The size of ice pieces (18) produced by air-blowing pulverizer (11) is sleet-like ice used for snow-cones. Ice pieces (18) are blown out through a hose of about 50 m at air exhaust (19) of air-blowing pulverizer (11) onto a ski slope as artificial snow (20).

APPLICATION IN THE FIELD

[0025] As described above, the present invention of the artificial snow making equipment with constant forced blowing has an ice block supplier which supplies ice blocks to an air-blowing pulverizer at a constant rate at the upstream of the air-blowing pulverizer. As a result, pulverization by rotary blades of the air-blowing pulverizer is uniformly performed such that the size of pulverized ice pieces is uniform. Additionally, ice blocks are supplied at a constant rate, preventing any blocking of the space between the rotary blades due to excess supply, such that a sudden stop of the air-blowing pulverizer is preventable. Further, any excess drive is not required to rotate the rotary blades against the force. In addition, a decline in the force of air, due to a back flow of forced air into the ice block supplier to supply ice blocks at a constant rate, can be prevented. In the air-blowing pulverizer, an ice block supply opening is placed to connect to an opening of an air duct. Therefore, the air, forced together with ice blocks from the opening of the air duct, is used only for blowing the artificial snow through the air exhaust. Consequently, a loss in air pressure is minimized such that the artificial snow can be blown to the requisite distance. Additionally, two rows of the rotary blades are alternated around a rotational shaft such that ice blocks are strongly pulverized by a plurality of rotary blades while shifting between the alternated rotary blades, resulting in high pulverization performance. Hence, a large amount of excellent artificial snow with uniform particles can be produced. Further, the rotary blades are angled in relation to the axis of the rotational shaft such that the center side of the rotary blades are shifted backward such that the ice blocks can be shifted among the rotary blades more smoothly. As a result, the ice blocks are efficiently crushed by the rotary blades which increases the pulverization performance. Moreover, since the edge of the blades are bent in the direction of rotation, the blades can pulverize the ice blocks with more force. Therefore, finer and more uniformed ice pieces can be effectively produced. These effects are not obtained by conventional technology.

Claims

1. An artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing, comprising:

an ice block supplier (1) to supply ice blocks at a constant rate including:

a casing (3) having, on a upper side of the casing, an ice block supply opening (4) through which ice blocks (2) are supplied, and on a lower side of the casing, an exit for ice blocks (5) which is positioned under the casing (3);

a rotary blades (8) which are arranged at an equal distance from each other around a rotational shaft (6), formed at the center of the casing (3), to supply the ice blocks (2) at a constant rate; and

an air-blowing pulverizer (11) including:

an air duct (9) which receives the ice blocks (2) and air (12) being supplied from an ice block supplier (1);

a casing (13) having an opening (10) of the air duct (9) on the side surface;

rotary blades (17) radially arranged at an equal distance from each other around periphery (16) of rotational shaft (15), formed at the center of the casing (13), to pulverize ice blocks (2) into ice pieces (18); and

an air exhaust (19) formed on the opposite side of the casing (13) from the opening (10) of the air duct to blow ice pieces (18) as artificial snow (20),

   wherein the exit for ice blocks (5) of the ice block supplier (1) is connected to an ice block receiving slot (14) of air-blowing pulverizer (11) by the air duct (9).

2. The artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing according to Claim 1, wherein the ice block supplier (1) is such that space (22) between the periphery of casing (3) and edge (21) of rotary blade (8) is formed to be very narrow to prevent a back flow of air (12) from exit for ice blocks (5) into the ice block supplier (1).

3. The artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotary blades (17) of the air-blowing pulverizer (11) have width (24) equal to the length (23) of rotational shaft (15), and the rotary blades (17) are radially arranged at an equal distance from each other around the periphery (16) of the rotational shaft such that rotary blades (17) are parallel to axis (39).

4. The artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotary blades (17) in the air-blowing pulverizer (11) are radially arranged in two rows at an equal distance from each other around the periphery (16) of the rotational shaft, wherein one side of the rotary blades (17), at the central periphery (26) of the shaft, is positioned behind the other side of the rotary blade (17), on an edge (25) of the shaft, in the direction opposite from direction of rotation (27) such that rotary blade (17) is oblique to axis (39).

5. The artificial snow making equipment with constant forced-blowing according to Claim 3 or 4 in which edge portion (31) is a portion of rotary blade (17) in air-blowing pulverizer (11) between edge (29) of the blade and bending line (30) which is located between base (28) and edge (29) of the blade wherein edge portion (31) is bent in the direction opposite from direction or rotation (27).

Drawing